Non-cooperation with Government Begins in Palestine; Athlit Prisoners Tell of Torture

Correspondents who visited the Athlit detention camp today at the invitation of the Government were told by the prisoners that about 40 detainees were tortured and beaten by Criminal Investigation Division officers.

“We do not have any complaints against the military authorities, which conducted lawful, human investigations, but only against the CID, said Berl Repetur, Haifa labor leader and one of those reported to have been mistreated. He added: “Tell the Yishuv and the Jews of the world that detention has not broken our spirits and we are still strong.”

Almost two-thirds of the 1,600 persons who were originally detained at Athlit have been transferred to the Raffa camp on the Egyptian border, it was learned today.

The Haganah radio “Voice of Israel” announced today that a policy of non-cooperation with the government has begun. “There shall be no contact between any Jewish institution or organization and any department of the pogrom government until the leaders of the Yishuv and the rest of the detainees are released,” the broadcast said.

Details of the policy of non-cooperation were mapped out here today by a special committee established by the Jewish community. The first concrete action taken under the new policy was the refusal by the staff of the Jewish Agency to send a representative to sit on the board which has been named by the government to survey the damage done to the Agency building during searches by British troops.

Otto Freund, 25, one of the two Jewish veterans of the Czech Army who were kidnapped from their homes in Haifa Tuesday night, was found dead there this afternoon. Freund and Benjamin Papanek, who was abducted with him, were charged with turning informers and leading British troops to arms caches at the colony of Yagour. According to an official release today more arms have been found at Yagour, secreted in stalls in the cattle barn.

The military authorities announced today that, with the exception of Tel Aviv, the ban on visits by British soldiers to Jewish homes and places of entertainment has been lifted.

Harry Sacher, political advisor to the Jewish Agency office in London, is expected here tomorrow. He will confer with Dr. Weizmann and other members of the Agency who are still at large at Dr. Weizmann’s home in Rehovoth.